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Constitution of the 21st Law Commission of India

Law Commission of Indiais anexecutive
bodyestablished by an order of theGovernment of India.
Its major function is to work forlegal reform. Its membership
primarily comprises legal experts, who are entrusted a mandate by the
Government. The Commission is established for a fixed tenure and works as an
advisory body to the Ministry of Law and
Justice.

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
has given its approval on the Constitution of the 21st Law Commission of India, for a period of three years w.e.f. 1
September 2015 to 31 August, 2018.

The 21st Law Commission will consist of:

a
full-time Chairperson;

four
full-time Members (including a Member-Secretary);

Secretary,
Department of Legal Affairs as ex officio Member;

Secretary,
Legislative Department as ex officio Member; and

not
more than five part-time Members.

The Commission was originally constituted in 1955 and is
re-constituted every three years. The various Law Commissions have been able to
make important contribution towards the progressive development and
codification of laws of the country. Law Commissions have so far submitted 262
reports.

The term of the 20th Law Commission headed by former Delhi High
Court Chief Justice A P Shah ended on 31 March 2015. Other prominent members of
the commission included Justice Usha Mehra, Former Judge, Delhi High Court and
Prof. (Dr.) Mool Chand Sharma, Former Vice-Chancellor, Central University of
Haryana.

The task entrusted upon the Law Commission is to undertake
research in law and review of existing laws in India for making reforms therein
and enacting new legislations either on a reference made to it by the Central
Government or suo-motu.

Commission also has to undertake studies and research for
bringing reforms in the justice delivery systems for elimination of delay in
procedures, speedy disposal of cases, reduction in cost of litigation etc.

The other functions of the Law Commission shall, inter-alia,
include:

identification
of laws which are no longer relevant and recommending for the repeal of
obsolete and unnecessary enactments;

suggesting
enactment of new legislations as may be necessary to implement the
Directive Principles and to attain the objectives set out in the Preamble
of the Constitution;

considering
and conveying to the Government its views on any subject relating to law
and judicial administration that may be specifically referred to it by the
Government through Ministry of Law and Justice (Department of Legal
Affairs);

considering
the requests for providing research to any foreign countries as may be
referred to it by the Government through Ministry of Law & Justice
(Department of Legal Affairs);

preparing
and submitting to the Central Government, from time to time, reports on all
issues, matters, studies and research undertaken by it and recommending in
such reports for effective measures to be taken by the Union or any State;
and

performing
such other functions as may be assigned to it by the Central Government
from time to time.

Constitution of the 21st Law Commission of India
Reviewed by Rahul Tanwar
on
22:36
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